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South Canterbury Times, Issue 2437, 10 January 1881, Page 3

The new books for the Mechanics’ Institute have arrived, and a portion at least will be placed on the shelves at once.

The following amusing item has been telegraphed from Wellington to the “Lyttelton Times ”: The police have again been very active to-day in pouncing on publicans, with a view to detecting Sunday trading. The publicans regard this as a political move to secure the Good Templar vote next general election. The Christchurch “ I Toss ” states that a resident of Flaxton who had previously lost the use of one of his eyes had the second one injured by the glare of light in Cole’s circus, and for a time is almost entirely blind, though his medical attendants hope to effect a cure. Another visitor to this show is also said to have suffered partial.loss of eyesight from a like cause.

It appears that a new species of “ best on record” will shortly have to be added to the sporting time-tables. Accord ing to the “ New Zealand Times,” a debtor last week obtained an order of discharge 24 days after filing his schedule, thanks to the promptitude of his solicitor and the apathetic kindness of his creditors. This, we have reason to believe, is the fastest time on record, and is certainly worthy of note. Yesterday morning an angler who was pursuing his Sunday morning devotions with rod and line on the Breakwater, was rather astonished, when he believed he had secured a large cod, at pulling a live shag to the surface. The bird and the angler had been at the same pursuit, but the former diving down had caught a hook instead of a fish, The fisherman somewhat amused at his capture, decorated his feathered rival with a paper collar, and detaching the hook gave him a fresh lease of existence. In reference to the protest made by the Imperial pensioners in New Zealand against the impost of a penny per quarter to which they are subject through a penny stamp being required to the receipts to their pensions, the opinion of the SolicitorGeneral has been taken on the legality of the impost, that opinion being that the law did not exempt Imperial Pensioners from liability to a penny tax on their receipts. The annual meeting of the Harbor Board takes place on Monday next. The unusual and somewhat questionable or at all events evasive proceedure of considering a resolution involving a large expenditure, and receiving tenders for the work in question at one and the same meeting will form a part of the programme.

Referring to Edwards’ feat of walking 180 miles in 48 hours, the “Otago Daily Times ” says :—“ He was quite fresh at the close, and continued walking till 10 o’clock when he had totalled 182 miles 10 laps. The performance is not one of any significance compared with others of a like nature. So long ago as 1847, at Maitland, in New South Wales. J. F. King, the “ Flying Pieman,” walking on the racecourse, did 192 miles in 4(ii- hours. The latest feat at Home is that of a pedestrian named Rowell, who,in a six days's contest, travelled 400 miles in 90j hours, which is at the rate of 200 miles in 45 hours. Reside a performance like this, 180 miles in 48 hours is poor, and Mr Edwards will have to do something better ere he can excite the public here to any degree.”

A despatch from Salt Lake .City, dated Oct. 11, says :—“ The Mormon Confetence, which adjourned yesterday, was chiefly noteworthy for the filling of the First Presidency, which has been vacant since the death of Brigham Young. John Taylor was elected President, with George Q. Cannon as First, and Joseph F. Smith as Second Councillor. Mr Cannon is the delegate to Congress, and was re-nomi-nated Oct 7. Joseph F. Smith is a nephew of the original Joseph Smith. John Taylor was the ranking member of the Twelve Apostles. Mr Cannon is regarded as the ruling spirit—tbe power behind the Throne —although Wilford Woodruff, ranking member of the Twelve Apostles, and not Cannon, is the heir-ap-parent, according to precedent.

The “ Kumara Times” says : —“ In connection with the sad fate of the man whose remains were found in the bed of the Tcrcmakau a short time since, and on which an inquest was held on Tuesday last it may be stated that no reasonable doubt exists as to the unfortunate man being the same who was at Bruce's station immediately previous to the supposed date of the accident. As a guide to his friends the following description is supplied . —Young man, about 27 or 28 years of age, sft lOin to sft 11. in height, lathergood looking, very dark hair, and dark complexion. He was a little wild in his speech, and talked of the necessity of earning some money, as he was about to marry a lady of fortune. There was on the body a Crimean shirt (no flannel), printed moleskins, with a dark stripe on a lighter ground. Water-tights, much worn, and not slop-made. In an old purse in the trousers pocket was an English farthing of the date of 1854.

At Invercargill on Friday last Richard Kelly, a circus hand, was charged with stealing a scarf-ring from a man who was lodging in the same house with him. The local “Times” reports the circumstance thus ;—“ The prosecutor swore very positively to the ring being his. He showed the Bench a mark by which he knew it. It had formerly been a lady’s ornament, and the remains of a link or ring which had been filed off were visible on the back of it. The jeweller who sold it to him was less positive, and contented himself with saying that the ring produced was certainly very much like it. The accused said be bought the ring in San Francisco, and when arrested he told the constables that he would give it back to Flack and have no more about it, as the latter had taken a fancy to it. The magistrate, while thinking the circumstances very suspicious, decided todismiss thocase with acaution.”

Mr Dick left Wellington on Saturday on his journey to Sydney to attend the Intercolonial Conference. The principal subjects of interest to he brought before the conference will iuclude proposals to establish an Intercolonial Court of final appeal, federation of the Australian colonics with a Federal Council, intercolonial legislation with a view to the enforcement in one colony of judgments of Courts in another, recovery of debts, damages, &c., on judgments obtained in another colony, arrest of persons charged with misdemeanours of wife desertion (the present power of extradition extending only to charges of felony), promotion of intercolonial free trade, and a uniform tariff among the Australian colonies, Chinese Immigration question, granting of patents in one colony giving protection for all colonies, naval and military defence of the colonies, postal and telegraphic matters, and several questions whose interest is confined to the other Australian colonies, such as the border duties, diseases of stock, and vines, railway extension, kc. One point of much importance to New Zealand will he to procure, if possible, the abandonment of the present prohibitive Australian duties acainst imported oats, so a- to admit those from New Zealand, and a strenuous effect will he made in this direction.

The well known Criterion Carriage factory so .satisfactorily carried on by Mr John Barrett has pass'd into the hands of Messrs Evans, Graudi, & Dooley, who by good workmanship and due attention to the wants of their customers intend to perpetuate the high reputations of th; establishment. A Committee meeting of the South Canterbury Caledonian Society takes place in the Grosvenor this evening.